Kansas Waterhttp://www.photoshelter.com/va-gallery/V0000MWIf9uCOm5c/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA?_bqO=0&_bqH=eJxzNncPjghPDw32CSwpc83NSfd2S4vQNagMTbSwMjWxMjK1snKP93SxdTcAgqhsS9f8sDyj0nxHtTCQaBhI1DfcM82y1Nk_1zRZzd0z3t3Rx8c1KBKbJgAC3CBj
PhotoShelterTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500http://www.photoshelter.com/img/ps-logo.gifKansas Waterhttp://www.photoshelter.com/va-gallery/V0000MWIf9uCOm5c/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA?_bqO=0&_bqH=eJxzNncPjghPDw32CSwpc83NSfd2S4vQNagMTbSwMjWxMjK1snKP93SxdTcAgqhsS9f8sDyj0nxHtTCQaBhI1DfcM82y1Nk_1zRZzd0z3t3Rx8c1KBKbJgAC3CBj
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156163744KANWATER_02.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000aWKzvcANq7k/0KANWATER_02.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000aWKzvcANq7k/0"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000aWKzvcANq7k/s/500/I0000aWKzvcANq7k.jpg" alt="Mitchell Baalman inspects the pump for a center pivot irrigation system on his 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured) are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />Mitchell Baalman inspects the pump for a center pivot irrigation system on his 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured) are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalMitchell Baalman inspects the pump for a center pivot irrigation system on his 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured) are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKIhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I00001M1g7.elCUw/1?V_ID=V0000MWIf9uCOm5c
156163744KANWATER_03.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I00001M1g7.elCUw/1KANWATER_03.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I00001M1g7.elCUw/1"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00001M1g7.elCUw/s/500/I00001M1g7.elCUw.jpg" alt="A pump for a center pivot irrigation system sits on Mitchell Baalman's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (both not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />A pump for a center pivot irrigation system sits on Mitchell Baalman's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (both not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalA pump for a center pivot irrigation system sits on Mitchell Baalman's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (both not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKIhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000R2n3k2U8bvM/2?V_ID=V0000MWIf9uCOm5c
156163744KANWATER_01.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000R2n3k2U8bvM/2KANWATER_01.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000R2n3k2U8bvM/2"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000R2n3k2U8bvM/s/500/I0000R2n3k2U8bvM.jpg" alt="A center pivot irrigation system waters a freshly planted wheat field on Mitchell Baalman's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (both not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />A center pivot irrigation system waters a freshly planted wheat field on Mitchell Baalman's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (both not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalA center pivot irrigation system waters a freshly planted wheat field on Mitchell Baalman's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (both not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKIhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000.dSRixIyTIk/3?V_ID=V0000MWIf9uCOm5c
156163744KANWATER_05.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000.dSRixIyTIk/3KANWATER_05.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000.dSRixIyTIk/3"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000.dSRixIyTIk/s/500/I0000.dSRixIyTIk.jpg" alt="Dry corn sits in a field on Mitchell Baalman's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (both not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />Dry corn sits in a field on Mitchell Baalman's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (both not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalDry corn sits in a field on Mitchell Baalman's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (both not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKIhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000AMYcXRBDtus/4?V_ID=V0000MWIf9uCOm5c
156163744KANWATER_04.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000AMYcXRBDtus/4KANWATER_04.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000AMYcXRBDtus/4"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000AMYcXRBDtus/s/500/I0000AMYcXRBDtus.jpg" alt="Freshly planted wheat awaits watering from a center pivot irrigation system on Mitchell Baalman's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (both not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />Freshly planted wheat awaits watering from a center pivot irrigation system on Mitchell Baalman's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (both not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalFreshly planted wheat awaits watering from a center pivot irrigation system on Mitchell Baalman's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (both not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKIhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000GJY.X0zY0j4/5?V_ID=V0000MWIf9uCOm5c
156163744KANWATER_06.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000GJY.X0zY0j4/5KANWATER_06.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000GJY.X0zY0j4/5"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000GJY.X0zY0j4/s/500/I0000GJY.X0zY0j4.jpg" alt="Mitchell Baalman tends to business on the phone while making the rounds on his 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />Mitchell Baalman tends to business on the phone while making the rounds on his 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalMitchell Baalman tends to business on the phone while making the rounds on his 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKIhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000F4FDQr2XKbQ/6?V_ID=V0000MWIf9uCOm5c
156163744KANWATER_08.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000F4FDQr2XKbQ/6KANWATER_08.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000F4FDQr2XKbQ/6"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000F4FDQr2XKbQ/s/500/I0000F4FDQr2XKbQ.jpg" alt="Round bales of hay sit across from Mitchell Baalman's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (both not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />Round bales of hay sit across from Mitchell Baalman's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (both not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalRound bales of hay sit across from Mitchell Baalman's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (both not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKIhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000mO5eH53Pl1E/7?V_ID=V0000MWIf9uCOm5c
156163744KANWATER_07.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000mO5eH53Pl1E/7KANWATER_07.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000mO5eH53Pl1E/7"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000mO5eH53Pl1E/s/500/I0000mO5eH53Pl1E.jpg" alt="A center pivot irrigation system waters an alfalfa field on Mitchell Baalman's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (both not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />A center pivot irrigation system waters an alfalfa field on Mitchell Baalman's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (both not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalA center pivot irrigation system waters an alfalfa field on Mitchell Baalman's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (both not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKIhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I00002C69BioCCmo/8?V_ID=V0000MWIf9uCOm5c
156163744KANWATER_12.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I00002C69BioCCmo/8KANWATER_12.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I00002C69BioCCmo/8"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00002C69BioCCmo/s/500/I00002C69BioCCmo.jpg" alt="Mitchell Baalman, right, and his sister, Keyna Baalman, prepare to transport the milo harvest on the family's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />Mitchell Baalman, right, and his sister, Keyna Baalman, prepare to transport the milo harvest on the family's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalMitchell Baalman, right, and his sister, Keyna Baalman, prepare to transport the milo harvest on the family's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKIhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I00006lMUe3v1tvQ/9?V_ID=V0000MWIf9uCOm5c
156163744KANWATER_10.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I00006lMUe3v1tvQ/9KANWATER_10.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I00006lMUe3v1tvQ/9"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00006lMUe3v1tvQ/s/500/I00006lMUe3v1tvQ.jpg" alt="Mitchell Baalman, left, and his sister, Keyna Baalman, supervise milo harvesting on the family's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />Mitchell Baalman, left, and his sister, Keyna Baalman, supervise milo harvesting on the family's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalMitchell Baalman, left, and his sister, Keyna Baalman, supervise milo harvesting on the family's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKIhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000M2uHJ3PopuA/10?V_ID=V0000MWIf9uCOm5c
156163744KANWATER_13.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000M2uHJ3PopuA/10KANWATER_13.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000M2uHJ3PopuA/10"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000M2uHJ3PopuA/s/500/I0000M2uHJ3PopuA.jpg" alt="Keyna Baalman covers a truckload of harvested milo for transport on the family's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (both not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />Keyna Baalman covers a truckload of harvested milo for transport on the family's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (both not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalKeyna Baalman covers a truckload of harvested milo for transport on the family's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (both not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKIhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000eSLRNyZi.TU/11?V_ID=V0000MWIf9uCOm5c
149853323KANWATER_15.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000eSLRNyZi.TU/11KANWATER_15.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000eSLRNyZi.TU/11"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000eSLRNyZi.TU/s/500/I0000eSLRNyZi.TU.jpg" alt="A field of sunflowers sits on Mitchell Baalman's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (both not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />A field of sunflowers sits on Mitchell Baalman's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (both not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalA field of sunflowers sits on Mitchell Baalman's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (both not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKIhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I00008d6JotgD0Ko/12?V_ID=V0000MWIf9uCOm5c
156163744KANWATER_16.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I00008d6JotgD0Ko/12KANWATER_16.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I00008d6JotgD0Ko/12"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00008d6JotgD0Ko/s/500/I00008d6JotgD0Ko.jpg" alt="Mitchell Baalman stands for a portrait in a field of sunflowers on his family's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />Mitchell Baalman stands for a portrait in a field of sunflowers on his family's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalMitchell Baalman stands for a portrait in a field of sunflowers on his family's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKIhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000tLlrC55YfKA/13?V_ID=V0000MWIf9uCOm5c
156163744KANWATER_17.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000tLlrC55YfKA/13KANWATER_17.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000tLlrC55YfKA/13"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000tLlrC55YfKA/s/500/I0000tLlrC55YfKA.jpg" alt="Mitchel Baalman picks sunflower seeds on his family's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />Mitchel Baalman picks sunflower seeds on his family's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalMitchel Baalman picks sunflower seeds on his family's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKIhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000rUTLUxHRgL4/14?V_ID=V0000MWIf9uCOm5c
150703380KANWATER_18.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000rUTLUxHRgL4/14KANWATER_18.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000rUTLUxHRgL4/14"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000rUTLUxHRgL4/s/500/I0000rUTLUxHRgL4.jpg" alt="Mitchell Baalman inspects his farming equipment as he prepares to plant wheat on his family's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />Mitchell Baalman inspects his farming equipment as he prepares to plant wheat on his family's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalMitchell Baalman inspects his farming equipment as he prepares to plant wheat on his family's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKIhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000pdNit.7z.UY/15?V_ID=V0000MWIf9uCOm5c
156163744KANWATER_19.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000pdNit.7z.UY/15KANWATER_19.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000pdNit.7z.UY/15"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000pdNit.7z.UY/s/500/I0000pdNit.7z.UY.jpg" alt="A family photograph hangs in Mitchell Baalman's office on his family's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />A family photograph hangs in Mitchell Baalman's office on his family's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalA family photograph hangs in Mitchell Baalman's office on his family's 12,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured), are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKIhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000lrX97chqQis/16?V_ID=V0000MWIf9uCOm5c
156163744KANWATER_23.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000lrX97chqQis/16KANWATER_23.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000lrX97chqQis/16"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000lrX97chqQis/s/500/I0000lrX97chqQis.jpg" alt="Brett Oelke drives to inspect a center pivot irrigation system on his family's 6,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman (not pictured) and Brett Oelke are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />Brett Oelke drives to inspect a center pivot irrigation system on his family's 6,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman (not pictured) and Brett Oelke are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalBrett Oelke drives to inspect a center pivot irrigation system on his family's 6,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman (not pictured) and Brett Oelke are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKIhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000luLMWpZMDvs/17?V_ID=V0000MWIf9uCOm5c
156163744KANWATER_24.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000luLMWpZMDvs/17KANWATER_24.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000luLMWpZMDvs/17"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000luLMWpZMDvs/s/500/I0000luLMWpZMDvs.jpg" alt="Brett Oelke inspects the pump for a center pivot irrigation system on his family's 6,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman (not pictured) and Brett Oelke are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />Brett Oelke inspects the pump for a center pivot irrigation system on his family's 6,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman (not pictured) and Brett Oelke are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalBrett Oelke inspects the pump for a center pivot irrigation system on his family's 6,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman (not pictured) and Brett Oelke are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKIhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000V0OGCvjMXe0/18?V_ID=V0000MWIf9uCOm5c
156163744KANWATER_25.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000V0OGCvjMXe0/18KANWATER_25.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000V0OGCvjMXe0/18"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000V0OGCvjMXe0/s/500/I0000V0OGCvjMXe0.jpg" alt="Brett Oelke inspects the pump for a center pivot irrigation system on his family's 6,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman (not pictured) and Brett Oelke are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />Brett Oelke inspects the pump for a center pivot irrigation system on his family's 6,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman (not pictured) and Brett Oelke are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalBrett Oelke inspects the pump for a center pivot irrigation system on his family's 6,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman (not pictured) and Brett Oelke are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKIhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000udsXEg51xCM/19?V_ID=V0000MWIf9uCOm5c
156163744KANWATER_27.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000udsXEg51xCM/19KANWATER_27.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000udsXEg51xCM/19"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000udsXEg51xCM/s/500/I0000udsXEg51xCM.jpg" alt="Brett Oelke, left, watches as workers prepare to store the corn harvest on his family's 6,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman (not pictured) and Brett Oelke are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />Brett Oelke, left, watches as workers prepare to store the corn harvest on his family's 6,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman (not pictured) and Brett Oelke are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalBrett Oelke, left, watches as workers prepare to store the corn harvest on his family's 6,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman (not pictured) and Brett Oelke are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKIhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000ivAi7u94ta8/20?V_ID=V0000MWIf9uCOm5c
156163744KANWATER_26.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000ivAi7u94ta8/20KANWATER_26.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000ivAi7u94ta8/20"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000ivAi7u94ta8/s/500/I0000ivAi7u94ta8.jpg" alt="Paul Oelke, right, grandfather of Brett Oelke (not pictured) prepares to store the corn harvest on his family's 6,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman (not pictured) and Brett Oelke are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />Paul Oelke, right, grandfather of Brett Oelke (not pictured) prepares to store the corn harvest on his family's 6,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman (not pictured) and Brett Oelke are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalPaul Oelke, right, grandfather of Brett Oelke (not pictured) prepares to store the corn harvest on his family's 6,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman (not pictured) and Brett Oelke are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKIhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000Vz6aLa8ChUo/21?V_ID=V0000MWIf9uCOm5c
156163744KANWATER_30.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000Vz6aLa8ChUo/21KANWATER_30.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000Vz6aLa8ChUo/21"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000Vz6aLa8ChUo/s/500/I0000Vz6aLa8ChUo.jpg" alt="A center pivot irrigation system sits on the Oelke family farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured) are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />A center pivot irrigation system sits on the Oelke family farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured) are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalA center pivot irrigation system sits on the Oelke family farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman and Brett Oelke (not pictured) are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKIhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000N2u1aEzUO9E/22?V_ID=V0000MWIf9uCOm5c
156163744KANWATER_31.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000N2u1aEzUO9E/22KANWATER_31.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000N2u1aEzUO9E/22"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000N2u1aEzUO9E/s/500/I0000N2u1aEzUO9E.jpg" alt="Brett Oelke prepares to dig out a center pivot irrigation system that has become stuck in the mud on his family's 6,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman (not pictured) and Brett Oelke are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />Brett Oelke prepares to dig out a center pivot irrigation system that has become stuck in the mud on his family's 6,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman (not pictured) and Brett Oelke are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalBrett Oelke prepares to dig out a center pivot irrigation system that has become stuck in the mud on his family's 6,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman (not pictured) and Brett Oelke are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKIhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000GhxMHYFuMhc/23?V_ID=V0000MWIf9uCOm5c
156163744KANWATER_32.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000GhxMHYFuMhc/23KANWATER_32.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000GhxMHYFuMhc/23"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000GhxMHYFuMhc/s/500/I0000GhxMHYFuMhc.jpg" alt="Brett Oelke, right, tries to pull out a center pivot irrigation system that has become stuck in the mud on his family's 6,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman (not pictured) and Brett Oelke are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />Brett Oelke, right, tries to pull out a center pivot irrigation system that has become stuck in the mud on his family's 6,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman (not pictured) and Brett Oelke are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalBrett Oelke, right, tries to pull out a center pivot irrigation system that has become stuck in the mud on his family's 6,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman (not pictured) and Brett Oelke are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKIhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000kJWY6VvLH0Q/24?V_ID=V0000MWIf9uCOm5c
156163744KANWATER_35.JPGTristan Spinskihttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.comhttps://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000kJWY6VvLH0Q/24KANWATER_35.JPG by TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalTue, 20 Nov 2012 11:08:07 -0500<a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/G0000Zk9EoVn2uoA/I0000kJWY6VvLH0Q/24"><img src="https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000kJWY6VvLH0Q/s/500/I0000kJWY6VvLH0Q.jpg" alt="Brett Oelke inspects the pump for a center pivot irrigation system on his family's 6,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman (not pictured) and Brett Oelke are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. (TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)" /></a>
<br />Brett Oelke inspects the pump for a center pivot irrigation system on his family's 6,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman (not pictured) and Brett Oelke are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains. <a href="https://tristanspinski.photoshelter.com">(TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journal)</a><br />Copyright: TRISTAN SPINSKIfarmingagriculturefarmerswaterwater usageconservationharvestwater rightsreserviordroughtrainfallraindrydustycropswheatcornirrigationwater pumpfieldscountrysmall townAmericanabread basketruraldesolateheartlandhorizontalcolorTRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street JournalBrett Oelke inspects the pump for a center pivot irrigation system on his family's 6,000-acre farm outside of Hoxie, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. As historically dry conditions continue, farmers from South Dakota to the Texas panhandle rely on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground aquifer in the United States, to irrigate crops. After decades of use, the falling water level ? accelerated by historic drought conditions over the last two years ? is putting pressure on farmers to ease usage or risk becoming the last generation to grow crops on the land. Farmers like Mitchell Baalman (not pictured) and Brett Oelke are part of a farming community in in Sheridan County, Kansas, an agricultural hub in western Kansas, who have agreed to cut back on water use for crop irrigation so that their children and future generations can continue to farm and sustain themselves on the High Plains.TRISTAN SPINSKI/Tristan Spinski for the Wall Street Journalfarming, agriculture, farmers, water, water usage, conservation, harvest, water rights, reservior, drought, rainfall, rain, dry, dusty, crops, wheat, corn, irrigation, water pump, fields, country, small town, Americana, bread basket, rural, desolate, heartland, horizontal, colorTRISTAN SPINSKI